In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants from Jan. 21-22, 2026.The airstrikes occurred in the vicinity of Koday, approximately 100 km southwest of Kismaayo. AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and our citizens abroad.Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security.

Sunday January 25, 2026 Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali officials say the number of Al-Shabab militants killed during a foiled attack on the coastal town of Kudhaa in the Lower Juba region has risen to about 250, marking one of the deadliest setbacks for the group in recent months. The governor of Badhaadhe district, Hassan Nur Abdi, said Saturday that government and allied forces inflicted heavy losses on the militants after repelling their assault on Kudhaa Island and surrounding areas. “The enemy attacked us and we pushed them back decisively,” Abdi said. “The confirmed death toll among Al-Shabab fighters is now 250. Additional bodies are still being recovered, but this figure has been verified.” Abdi said eight Al-Shabab militants were captured during the fighting and that at least eight of the group’s combat vehicles were destroyed. He described the losses as “irreparable” for the militant group and suggested the scale of the defeat would significantly weaken its ability to operate in Jubbaland. “The Khawarij have suffered a crushing blow here,” he said, using a term commonly applied by Somali officials to Al-Shabab. “I do not believe they will be able to return to Jubbaland areas in the near future.” The fighting followed a coordinated Al-Shabab attack on Kudhaa, which Somali forces said was aimed at overrunning the town. Government troops, including elite Danab units and Jubbaland forces, responded with sustained ground operations supported by international partners. Officials said pursuit operations are continuing in nearby areas to prevent surviving militants from regrouping. Abdi said the security situation in Kudhaa has stabilized and that civilians displaced by the fighting have begun returning to their homes. Al-Shabab has not commented on the reported casualty figures. The group frequently launches complex attacks on military targets in southern Somalia but rarely acknowledges losses on this scale. The Kudhaa battle comes as Somali authorities intensify operations across Lower and Middle Juba, seeking to dismantle militant strongholds and secure key coastal and rural areas.

Somali Forces Retake Coastal Town of Kudhaa After Heavy Fighting With al-Shabab Posted On 22-01-2026, 09:45AM KUDHAA, Somalia — Somali government forces backed by the elite Danab commandos and Jubbaland regional troops have retaken the coastal town of Kudhaa after heavy fighting with al-Shabab, officials said on Thursday. The fighting began before dawn a day earlier when al-Shabab fighters launched an attack on the area in Somalia’s Lower Juba region, and ended early Thursday after government forces surrounded and overran the militants, military officials said. Security forces displayed the bodies of several al-Shabab fighters, including senior figures killed in the clashes, as well as weapons and military vehicles seized during the battle. Commanders leading the operation said the militants had been fully driven out of the town following the offensive. Kudhaa lies about 70 kilometers (43 miles) southwest of the port city of Kismayo along the Indian Ocean coast and has been repeatedly targeted by al-Shabab, which has waged a long-running insurgency against Somalia’s federal government. GAROWE ONLINE

Badhaadhe, January 22, 2026 – Jubaland forces, backed by Somali National Army (SNA) Danab troops trained by the United States, regained control of the Kudhaa area in Badhaadhe district on Thursday following a coordinated military operation. The area fell to Al-Shabaab on Wednesday after a heavy attack on Jubaland army positions, which local sources said left both soldiers and civilians dead. In response, Jubaland and Danab forces launched a joint ground and air offensive overnight, ultimately driving Al-Shabaab fighters from Kudhaa. Roads were closed and the area placed under full lockdown to prevent militants from escaping, security sources said. Some insurgents were killed in clashes while others were captured. Officials credited the success to U.S. and Kenyan intelligence, air support, and communications assistance, which allowed forces to quickly neutralize the militants’ attack. Jubaland authorities said clearing and security operations are ongoing to ensure Kudhaa remains free from threats and to safeguard civilians. They pledged continued operations until full stability is restored in the district. —————————————————————————————————– If you have any information regarding Al‑Shabaab activities, please call 0611169105. Any information you provide, as well as your identity, will be kept safe and confidential.

Al-Shabaab militants launched a major attack on Somali regional forces on Kudhaa Island on Wednesday, about 120 kilometres south of Kismayo. A local resident told reporters the fighting caused heavy casualties, though details remain unclear. The group claimed it had seized the area, a claim that has not been independently verified, and the Jubaland regional administration has yet to issue a statement.

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali National Army, specifically the elite Danab Commandos, operating in close coordination with Jubbaland Security Forces and international security partners, has successfully concluded a major security operation spanning more than 24 hours. This high-intensity engagement effectively dismantled a large-scale offensive attempted by Kharijite militias targeting the strategic town of Kudhaa in the Lower Juba region. The operation marks a decisive victory for the federal and regional forces, ensuring the continued stability of the coastal district against desperate attempts by the terror group to gain ground. In what military officials are describing as a catastrophic defeat for the insurgents, the joint forces inflicted severe losses upon the attackers. Confirmed reports indicate that over 130 militants were killed during the direct confrontation, with a significant number of others sustaining critical injuries. The bravery and tactical superiority displayed by the Somali forces allowed them to repel the assault and seize a substantial cache of military equipment and combat vehicles abandoned by the terrorists as they fled the battlefield. Following the conclusion of the combat operations, the security dynamics in Kudhaa and its surrounding vicinities have been fully stabilized. The Somali National Army and Jubbaland Security Forces maintain a robust presence on the ground, exercising full control over the area. Troops remain in a state of high alert, conducting clearing patrols to prevent any potential resurgence of the threat and to guarantee the safety of the local population. The Ministry of Defense of the Federal Government and the Command of the Somali National Army have issued a joint statement commending the heroism, seamless collaboration, and vigilance demonstrated by the National Army and Jubbaland forces. The authorities reaffirmed their commitment to the eradication of terror groups, declaring that such offensive operations will persist relentlessly until a comprehensive and lasting peace is established throughout the entire country.

TERROR ATTACK IN SOUTHERN #SOMALIA: Al-Shabaab militants launched a pre-dawn attack on Wednesday on three Jubaland security bases located on #Kudhaa Island in Badhaadhe district. Kudhaa or Kuda in the Lower Juba region of Jubaland is situated very close to the Kenya-Somalia border. The militants overrun the three bases as Jubaland forces retreated, security sources say. There are also number of Jubaland soldiers missing. Intelligence sources are saying that #Eritrean terrorists, believed to be trainers for the Al-Shabaab militia, accompanied and took part in the fighting this morning. Al-Shabaab released an audio speech from Fuad Mohamed Qalaf Shangole, a key terrorist who is responsible for what the group refers to as da‘wah (indoctrination/propaganda). Shongole is a Somali-Swedish terrorist who was in Somalia since his return in 2004. He was not seen publicly or made any appearance recently, but it appears he may have participated in today's attack on Kudhaa .

#UPDATE KUDHAA ATTACK: Somalia's #Jubaland forces continued on Friday clearing remnants of IEDs left behind by Al-Shabaab militants in Kudhaa, following Wednesday’s attack. On Wednesday, the militants overran three military bases in #Kudhaa but fled the same day after looting weapons and ammunition from the sites. Kudhaa is located approximately 130 kilometers from Kismayo, the capital of Jubaland, and lies close to the Kenya–Somalia border. There have been significant casualties: Jubaland forces, supported by U.S. airstrikes (and possibly with Kenyan involvement), killed more than 71 Al-Shabaab militants. Among the Al-Shabaab dead were wounded fighters who had initially fled and were later hidden in a mosque, where they were subsequently targeted in airstrikes. 64 Jubaland soldiers were killed in the attack, security officials said. In addition, two women, wives of #Jubaland soldiers, were shot dead by Al-Shabaab militants early Wednesday morning. Heavy airstrikes carried out from Thursday through Friday prevented Al-Shabaab from escaping with the looted weapons and with 17 prisoners they had captured. Al-Shabaab brutally killed 13 #Jubalabd soldiers they captured. The group put out a statement claiming the prisoners died in U.S. airstrikes. Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe also reported capturing 12 wounded Al-Shabaab fighters who were unable to continue fleeing due to exhaustion and hunger. @KaabTV https://en.kaabtv.com/dozens-killed-as-jubaland-repels-al-shabaab-assault-on-kudhaa-island/…

KISMAAYO (Kaab TV) – Jubaland security forces continued operations on Friday to clear landmines following a major Al-Shabaab assault on three military bases on Kudhaa Island in the Lower Juba region. The initial attack, which occurred on Wednesday, briefly saw the extremist group overrun the positions before they were pushed back. According to security officials speaking to Kaab TV, heavily armed units of the Jubaland Darawish and the Intelligence and Security Agency arrived on the island on Thursday and repulsed the militants. Teams have already begun detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) left behind by the militants, including a landmine planted within the Kudhaa police station compound, a local official told Kaab TV. Since Thursday, U.S. airstrikes targeted fleeing Al-Shabaab militants. Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) noted that the group’s losses are mounting as search teams discover more bodies and wounded fighters abandoned in the surrounding bushland. “Military reports indicate that Al-Shabaab fatalities have reached 250, with 13 militants captured. Most of the prisoners were wounded and apprehended in the wilderness today,” a statement from the President’s office confirmed. Casualties Kudhaa Island, located near the Somalia–Kenya border, is a strategic point monitored closely by both Jubaland and Kenyan forces. Security sources confirmed that at least 71 militants were killed specifically in the aftermath of the attack, many of whom were targeted by airstrikes while attempting to retreat. The battle has come at a high cost for Jubaland forces. Official counts report that 64 soldiers and two women—wives of soldiers—were killed during Wednesday’s early morning raid. Significantly, Jubaland intelligence sources reported the presence of foreign nationals among the Al-Shabaab ranks. Fighters from Eritrea and Kenya reportedly participated in the combat, with sources indicating these foreign elements provide specialized training to the group’s militants. Jubaland officials confirmed the capture of 12 wounded Al-Shabaab fighters. Conversely, Al-Shabaab claimed to have captured 17 Jubaland soldiers. The group alleged that these prisoners were subsequently killed in U.S. airstrikes while being transported through the forest. However, Kaab TV has learned that at least two Jubaland soldiers survived the ordeal in the wilderness and have since been recovered by their units. The Wednesday assault followed a familiar pattern of Al-Shabaab heavy explosions targeting military perimeters followed by an infantry surge. The attack on Kudhaa comes just days after Al-Shabaab attack on Somali Federal Government bases near the Warsheekh district in the Middle Shabelle region.

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